5 Reasons Why We Still Need to Teach The Catcher in the Rye

The beginning of a new school year is the perfect time to reflect on books ELA teachers have been teaching for a generation and determine if they are still relevant. Is it time to pack these books in the storage closet and turn to more modern Young Adult novels to engage students?

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger has been a staple in high school English classrooms for decades because of its revolutionary treatment of a teenage protagonist. The book puts its reader right in the head of a wayward sixteen year-old boy struggling with the process of growing up. It accurately reflects the time period in which it was written. The novel published in 1951 paints a picture of affluent New York City life in the post Word War II era.

The question is, can this character, Holden Caulfield in the early 1950’s, still be a worthwhile text to teach today in 2015?

Yes! You just need to know how to spin it to today’s young people.

Here are the Top 5 reasons why The Catcher in the Rye should still be taught:

5. Holden is the Original Hipster

He voices his opinion on everything from movies, musicals, and books. He acts like he’s too cool for most things people his age like to do and he’s excited to buy a record for his little sister. This is a modern way to spin Holden to help today’s young people understand him.

4. The Book Can Show the Importance of Human Relationships in a Digital Age

Young students today are so plugged in, it’s possible they aren’t finding connections with people IRL (in real life). Holden struggles to connect with other people and, in doing so, it can be shown how important it is to fully engage with others.

3. Transfer Holden’s Actions into Today– What Would Holden Tweet, Vine, or Instagram?

Holden is on quite the journey through New York City over the course of the novel. This is a prime opportunity to have students transpose his character and observations to today by having students interpret the novel through social media. Have students create Holden’s tweets, and show the kind of videos and pictures he’d take with Vine and Instagram.

2. Fight the Stigma of Mental Illness

Holden is struggling with depression throughout the novel. This allows a platform to teach young people the importance of seeking help for their own illness, or that of people they may know. Let Holden help children in need.

1. Some Students May Hate Holden (But at least they are having a definitive reaction to the character!)

While there are always students who “get” and connect with Holden, plenty of them find him to be an annoying, whiny person who they don’t want to even bother understanding. However, this visceral reaction to the character means the writing and novel are having an effect. Mine those varied opinions towards Holden, good or bad, and set your students free in their argumentative writing.

Hopefully you are recharged and ready to help your students engage with The Catcher In the Rye! Check out Castle Learning Online’s content for the novel to help create your assignments.

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